Treatment of peripheral vascular disease, leg cramps and injuries using needles and electrical stimulation

ABSTRACT

A method for healing an injury of a patient using an electrical stimulator and acupuncture needles is provided. The method can include the step of positioning a plurality of acupuncture needles coupled to the electrical stimulator at specific acupuncture points. The next step includes applying a current to the acupuncture needles. The first half of the treatment, a current is applied through the needles until a stinging sensation (or pain) is felt by the patient. Halfway through the treatment, the current is increased until a stinging sensation is again felt by the patient. At least four acupuncture needles are positioned at specific acupuncture points and alternating the polarity of the needles. The method may also include the use of Auriculotherapy, electrical stimulation without needles, in conjunction with the acupuncture needles and electric stimulator. The method may also be applied to the treatment of peripheral vascular disease, due to the effect of increasing blood flow and oxygen to the vessels.

CROSS REFERENCE

[0001] This application is a continuation in part of U.S. applicationSer. No. 08/864,307, filed May 28, 1997 entitled “Method of WoundHealing Using Electrical Stimulation and Acupuncture Needles”, thecontents of which are incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates generally to a method of healing aninjury, and more particularly to a method of healing an injury usingelectrical stimulation and/or acupuncture needles.

[0003] While electrical stimulators are well known in the art, they aretypically used in conjunction with Traditional Chinese Medicinemeridians (“TCM”). TCM is an ancient procedure that uses 250 differentpoints, which are points of lesser electrical resistance on the humanbody, to cure various medical conditions. That is, acupuncture needlesare inserted at these predetermined points on TCM meridians (lines) andthen left alone for a period of time or stimulated by a variety ofmethods:

[0004] 1. manually manipulating the needles;

[0005] 2. heat applied to the needles (moxa—similar to a hot lighted endof a cigar); and

[0006] 3. an electrical current.

[0007] In addition, the Craig PENS theory and treatment is well-known inthe art. The PENS method follows dermatomes, myotomes and neurotomes ofthe human body which are found in various anatomy books. Similar to TCM,the acupuncture needles are positioned at pre-defined locations on thehuman body associated with specific muscles, nerves or the like todissipate pain. Craig PENS is used for pain treatments only—back pain;neck pain; joint pain, etc.

[0008] Accordingly, prior art methods fail to teach the use acupunctureneedles to heal an injury irrespective of the specific pressure pointsor Chinese meridian points on the human body. To overcome thisdeficiency, the present invention uses acupuncture needles and positionsthem with specific reference to the location of the injury.

[0009] Prior art methods also fail to teach the use of auriculotherapyon the ear to facilitate treatment of peripheral vascular disease, legcramping or wounds. Auriculotherapy is performed by using eitherelectrical stimulation or needles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, a methodfor healing a injury of a patient using electrical stimulation and/orneedles are provided. The method includes the step of positioning aplurality of acupuncture needles at specific acupuncture points. Themethod also includes allowing the natural electric current present inthe needles to pass a current through the acupuncture needles. At leastfour acupuncture needles can be positioned at specific acupuncturepoints. In an embodiment of the invention, the use of needles atacupuncture points or Auriculotherapy on the ear alone and/or incombination with surrounding an injured area with acupuncture needlescoupled to electric stimulation are employed to treat peripheralvascular disease, leg cramps (claudicia pain) and leg wounds.

[0011] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide animproved method of healing injuries using electrical stimulation and/oracupuncture needles.

[0012] Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in partbe obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.

[0013] The invention accordingly comprises the several steps and therelation of one or more of such steps with respect to each of the othersthereof, which will be exemplified in the method hereinafter disclosed,and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had tothe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

[0015]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus used to heal aninjury in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0016]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus used to healperipheral vascular disease, leg cramping or an injury in accordancewith a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0017]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram apparatus used to heal peripheralvascular disease, leg cramping or an injury in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the invention; and.

[0018]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram apparatus used to heal peripheralvascular disease, leg cramping or an injury in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] A schematic diagram of an apparatus used to heal an injury usingelectrical stimulation is shown generally in FIG. 1. An injury 10 issubstantially surrounded by acupuncture needles 12, 14, 16 and 18. Whilefour acupuncture needles are used, any combination of needles may beused and preferably in the range of 4-8 so long as it properly encirclesthe injury. Needles of different polarity reside in proximity of oneanother so that, for example, two positive or two negative needles arenot adjacent. Preferably, needles 12, 14, 16 and 18 are approximatelytwo inches from one another and are positioned approximately ½ to twoinches from injury 10. In a second embodiment of the invention, as shownin FIG. 2, needles 22, 24, 26 and 28 can be placed on the leg, on thehip or on specific acupuncture points.

[0020] Needles 12, 14, 16 and 18 are connected to an electricalacupuncture stimulator 20. Electrical acupuncture stimulators 20 arewell known in the art. For example, Electrotherapeutic Devices, Inc. ofMarkham Ontario, Canada sells a Multiple Electronic Acupunctoscope ModelG6805 and Ito Co., Ltd. of Japan sells an Electropuncture IC1107 model.Electrical stimulator 20 is designed for clinical use and transmitspulsating currents of different intensities and frequencies through theacupuncture needles to the human body.

[0021] Electrical stimulator 20 is coupled to needles 12, 14, 16 and 18alternating between the positive and negative leads so that a positiveneedle does not reside immediate adjacent to a negative needle and viceversa. Traditional acupuncture lines such as traditional Chinesemeridians may also be used as described in the second embodiment of theinvention. As set forth above, the needle placement may be based solelyon the size of the injury and the positioning of the various needleswith respect to one another or the needles may be placed on the leg, hipor specific acupuncture points.

[0022] To treat peripheral vascular disease or an injury, electricalstimulator 20 is turned on and the frequency of the current is increaseduntil the needles sting or begin to hurt the patient. At this point thefrequency is held constant. A two to four hertz frequency is preferablyused to apply the current. The size of the current depends on thefrequency of the electrical stimulator being used, which is preferablyin the range of 1 Hz to 25 Hz. Any frequency in the range of preferablyone to twenty-five Hz may be used depending on the individual, the sizeof the injury and other such issues.

[0023] Halfway through the treatment, which generally lasts 20 to 30minutes, the frequency of the current is again increased until it startsto sting or begins to hurt the patient and at this point the frequencyis held constant. The above method should be repeated 3-5 times a week.Treatments are preferably continued until the peripheral vasculardisease is cleared, the leg pain subsides, or injury healing is completeor almost complete in smaller injuries or until in bigger injuries theinjury bed has enough granulation tissue (growth of blood vessels)covering the injury so a skin graft can be done. After the skin graft isdone, acupuncture treatments may be continued for 1-2 weeks to increasegraft survival.

[0024] It has been determined that peripheral vascular disease can causea reduction in blood flow, and thus oxygen and nutrients to the vessels.Peripheral vascular disease can in turn cause leg cramping and/orinhibit injuries from healing.

[0025] Based on the application of the current to the blood vessels inthe vicinity of the injury, the blood flow is likely to be increased tothe vessels or to the injury, thereby decreasing the healing time. Byincreasing the blood flow in and around the area of the injury, moreoxygen and body nutrients can get to the injury, thereby allowing theinjury to heal much quicker. This can also change non-healing injuriesto healing injuries. Increasing the blood flow in a leg suffering fromleg cramps makes it possible for more oxygen and body nutrients to getto the blood vessels thereby alleviating leg cramping.

[0026] In a second embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 2, atleast four acupuncture needles are placed on the hip, leg 41 or inspecific acupuncture locations. If treating a leg injury or an ulcer,peripheral vascular disease or leg cramping, four needles can bepositioned at for example, Stomach 30, Stomach 34, Spleen 8 and Kidney9. As described above, this can increase blood flow to the vessels, thustreating peripheral vascular disease, leg cramping and can speed healingof a leg wound.

[0027] In a third preferred embodiment of the invention, the use ofAuriculotherapy, which uses electric stimuli without the use of needles,can be used to treat peripheral vascular disease, leg cramps orinjuries. As similarly described above, the use of electricalstimulation generally increases blood flow and oxygen to the vessels. Asshown in FIG. 3, the use of Auriculotherapy is applied to the ear on theside of the affected limb. (e.g. right leg, right ear). AnAuriculotherapy device 33 can be applied to known points in or on theear which can stimulate another region of the body. For example, whentreating a leg injury, a red dot will commonly appear in a patient's ear32, corresponding to the affected leg. Auriculotherapy can be used tostimulate points as described in Auriculotherapy Manual Chinese andWestern Systems of Ear Acupuncture, Perry Olson, PhD(2d ed. 1996).Auriculotherapy stimulation can be applied to a red dot or red streakwhich often represents the site of the injury on the affected limb, inorder to help stimulate blood flow to the affected area and thusfacilitate healing. Additionally, TCM medicine can be used to facilitatehealing of the injury in the following fashion. Phase One, Phase Two andPhase Three Lung Points in the ear can be used to facilitate healing ofthe skin of the wound. Phase One, Phase Two and Phase Three SpleenPoints can be used to facilitate healing the tissue under the skin. If atendon is involved in the wound, Phase One and Phase Two of the LiverPoints can be used to facilitate healing of the tendons.

[0028] In a fourth preferred embodiment of the invention, a combinationof the first or second embodiment with the third embodiment, four pointsof stimuli can be used in conjunction with Auriculotherapy on the ear.If treating a leg injury or an ulcer, peripheral vascular disease or legcramping, four needles can be positioned at for example, Stomach 30,Stomach 34, Spleen 8 and Kidney 9. Then, Auriculotherapy, which usesonly electric stimulation without needles, can be applied to the ear ofwhichever leg is involved (e.g. right leg, right ear). As described inconnection with the other embodiments, the application of this treatmentmethod should increase the flow of blood, bringing more oxygen to thevessels, thus increasing the rate of injury healing. Auriculotherapy inthe ear can stimulate dispersion when applied at 10 Hz over a period ofapproximately 24 seconds or more and from 10 to 40 microamps.

[0029] In a fifth preferred embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 4, acombination of the first and second preferred embodiments, Electricalstimulator 20′ is coupled to needles 12′, 14′, 16′ and 18′. Needles 12′,14′, 16′ and 18′ are positioned substantially around the injury 10′.Needles 22′, 24′, 26′ and 28′ are positioned at points on the leg, hipor specific acupuncture points. The combination of different needlesproviding electric stimuli can increase blood flow increasing the rateof healing of the injury.

[0030] In a sixth preferred embodiment, the third and fourth embodimentsare combined in treating an injury. Electrical stimulator 20′ is coupledto needles 12′, 14′, 16′ and 18′. Needles 12′, 14′, 16′ and 18′ arepositioned substantially around the injury. Needles 22′, 24′, 26′ and28′ are positioned at points on the leg, hip or specific acupuncturepoints. Auriculotherapy are applied to the ear of the affected limb. Thecombination of different electric stimuli can increase blood flowincreasing the rate of healing of the injury.

EXAMPLE

[0031] An individual sustained an insect bite on the lower left leg. Theinjury appeared as a two centimeter, red, raised area with afluid-center approximately one centimeter in size. After three days, itwas opened and drained. Thereafter, the red area enlarged to fivecentimeters in size and the pain increased at the injury site and spreadto cover the leg area from the knee down to the ankle. The injury wastreated with normal saline rinse and clean dry dressing twice a day. Thenecrotic center gradually enlarged. Five days after the initial bite,the patient started taking Augmentin and Dapsone orally prescribed by aphysician. Three days thereafter the pain was increasing and wasinterfering with walking.

[0032] Seven days from the original bite, another doctor initiated an IVVancomycin for twelve days with whirlpool and debridement by physicaltherapy. Three days later, celulitis set in and the patient wasrestarted on IV Vancomycin for five days. More than a month later, whilethe celulitis and infection cleared up, the injury remained open with nofurther healing. Shortly thereafter, the ulcer (injury) was two to threemillimeters deep and the diameter was approximately 2½ to 3 centimeters.The patient had indicated that there had been no change in the size ofthe ulcer for more than three weeks.

[0033] As a result, the method of the first embodiment of the invention,described above, was employed in which four needles 12, 14, 16 and 18were placed around the injury, with alternating polarity separating eachneedle. The needles were spaced two inches apart from one another andwere positioned ½ to 2 inches away from the injury. Electricalstimulator 20 was activated using a frequency of 4 hertz. A current wasapplied until a stinging pain was felt by the patient. Halfway throughthe treatment, approximately ten minutes into the treatment, the currentwas increased until a stinging pain was again felt by the patient. Thisprocess lasted approximately 20 minutes in total. As a result of theapplication, the cyanotic (blue) rim around the injury became pink and12 hours after the first acupuncture treatment 95% of the paindisappeared.

[0034] By the fourth treatment which occurred seven days after theoriginal treatment, the ulcer diameter had decreased by two millimetersand the entire base of the injury (ulcer) had filled in with granulationtissue. In another 5 days, a scab formed over the injury and in another5 days the scab fell off—the injury (ulcer) completely healed 17 daysfrom the first acupuncture treatment. Based on the application of themethod described above, the treatment destroyed the toxin from the biteand broke up the Vasospasm (constricted blood vessel) on the rim of theulcer, thus allowing the ulcer to heal.

[0035] The same method may be used as described above, for non-healingskin ulcers, diabetic non-healing skin ulcers and peripheral vasculardisease non-healing skin ulcers and or any skin injury not healing dueto decreased blood flow in the area of the injury.

[0036] The method of treating an injury using needles and electricalstimulation described as taught in connection with either the second orfifth may also be used in the treatment of peripheral vascular disease.The use of needles and electric stimulation increases blood flow andbrings more oxygen to the vessels.

[0037] The method of treating an injury using needles and electricalstimulation may also be used in conjunction with Auriculotherapy appliedto the ear described as in connection with the third, fourth or sixthembodiments. When treating a leg injury or an ulcer, four needles can bepositioned at for example the following known acupuncture points,Stomach 30, Stomach 34, Spleen 8 and Kidney 9. The needle positioned atStomach 30 should be located two cuns lateral to the superior border ofthe pubic bone. The needle positioned at Stomach 34 should be positionedin a depression, two cuns proximal to the lateral superior border of thepatella. The needle positioned at Spleen 8 should be on the medial sideof the tibia, three cuns below the tibial plateau. The needle positionedat Kidney 8 should be on the medial side of the tibia, two cuns aboveKidney 3 and one cun medial to Kidney 7. Then, Auriculotherapy, whichuses only electric stimulation without needles, can be applied to theear of whichever leg is involved (e.g. right leg, right ear). Theapplication of this treatment method generally increases the flow ofblood, bringing more oxygen to the vessels, thus increasing the rate ofinjury healing.

[0038] It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, amongthose made apparent from the preceding description, are efficientlyattained and, since certain changes may be made in carrying out theabove method without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention, it is intended that all matter contained in the abovedescription shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

[0039] It is also to be understood that the following claims areintended to cover all of the generic and specific features of theinvention herein described and all statements of the scope of theinvention which, as a matter of language, might be said to falltherebetween.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of treating an injury of a patient usingacupuncture needles, comprising the steps of: positioning a plurality ofacupuncture needles at specific acupuncture points; and allowing thenatural current present in the needles to pass a current through theacupuncture needles.
 2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the acupuncturepoints include one or more of Stomach 30, Stomach 34, Spleen 5 andKidney
 8. 3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the injury is leg cramping.4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the injury is a wound.
 5. The methodof claim 1 wherein the injury is peripheral vascular disease.
 6. Amethod of treating an injury using auriculotherapy applying electricalstimulation or acupuncture needles applied to the ear stimulating pointsin the ear.
 7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the injury is legcramping.
 8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the injury is a wound. 9.The method of claim 6 , wherein the injury is peripheral vasculardisease.
 10. The method of claim 6 , wherein auriculotherapy is appliedto the ear of the same limb as that which is injured.
 11. The method ofclaim 6 , wherein stimulation is applied to a point of injury which isevident in the ear.
 12. A method of healing an injury of a patient usingan electrical stimulator, comprising the steps of: positioning aplurality of acupuncture needles at specific acupuncture points;positioning a plurality of a second set of acupuncture needlessubstantially around the injury the second set of acupuncture needlescoupled to the electrical stimulator; applying a current through thesecond set of acupuncture needles; and applying Auriculotherapy to theear.
 13. The method of claim 12 , further including the step ofincreasing the current through the second set of acupuncture needles tothe injury until a stinging sensation is felt by the patient.
 14. Themethod of claim 12 , wherein at least four acupuncture needles arepositioned at specific acupuncture points.
 15. The method of claim 12wherein the acupuncture points include one or more of Stomach 30,Stomach 34, Spleen 8 and Kidney 8.